I took this picture from my hunting blind this hunting season. Thought maybe you might like to post it. Lois Cowburn

xxx

Eleni Interiors, Olean, NY

Solomon's Auction & Yard Sale Page

Howard's Inc.

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Saturday, August 30, 2008

BREAKING NEWS: 8:45 PM-8-30-08Austin Fire and Ambulance have been dispatched to a 2 car accident on Route 872, 2 miles South of Costello towards Wharton.

An ambulance from Coudersport has also been dispatched. A rescue unit from Coudersport Fire Department is now responding mutual aid as well as a medical helicopter. Austin ambulance is enroute to Charles Cole. The medical helicopter is reported to be enroute to an Altoona trauma center.

Editor's note: The information posted by anonymous was withheld from publication until the state police released the report. It is not the state police policy to identify anyone under 18, but it is not against the law to publish the name if it is found through another source.

Anonymous said...

Thank you to ALL Emergency Personel that responded to this tragic call. It sure takes special people to do what you do everyday. The young man that died in this wreck was the younger brother of one of Austin's Volunteer Firefighters who actually responded to this call. My heart goes out to the Vossler Family at this difficult time and to the Volunteer's who keep on doing what you do.

Over the last 8 years Austin has had alot of bad accidents, Starting with Jason Glover who died, the following year mark valenti near death, then Nathan Setzer Died, Then a kid that just got out of high school hit a tree and almost died, A girl who just moved to austin and died, then there was 2 victims that almost died and now this one happen, very tragic and a bad case of bad luck in this town. Austin EMS you guys are amazing to beable to live in small town and know everybody and still respond to calls that may end up being your bestfriend.

DEP hands out fines in trash case

BURLINGTON - What started out as a complaint filed with the Department of Environmental Protection for illegal burning of demolition waste from dismantled mobile homes in Camptown turned into a DEP fine against a large Bradford County landfill, the hauler transporting the waste, and the company responsible for the illegal burning.

Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority was fined $12,000 for accepting the waste from E.A. Ward Excavating Inc, of Troy, who did not have a required Environmental Accreditation Act sticker on his vehicle, and Ward was fined $14,000 for delivering demolition waste to the Burlington Township landfill back in April.

According to Pat Brennan, environmental group manager for DEP's waste management program, the complaint was filed when demolition waste, hauled by the Ward vehicles, was burned at the Fenton Stone Quarry in Wilmot Township, Brennan said.

Arthur Fenton, who owns and operates the quarry, was fined $10,145 for the illegal burning of construction/demolition waste on his property, according to Dan Spadoni, community relations coordinator for DEP. More.....

BREAKING NEWS: 5:00pm-8-30-08Firemen from Eldred Township, Eldred Boro Ambulance, and Medic 1 are on scene of a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Newell Creek and Route 155 south of Larabee Y.

An elderly driver went off the roadway into a wooded area. While injuries have been reported, a medical helicopter placed on standby was cancelled.

In my ongoing efforts to make government more accessible to you, I have scheduled the following outreach office hours in September:

Thursday, Sept. 4:

Emporium Borough Office

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Port Allegany Borough Office

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Visit My District Offices

You are also welcome to stop by my offices in Bradford (78 Main St., 1st floor, telephone 814-362-4400) or Coudersport (2 Allegany Ave., telephone 814-274-9769) Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed from noon to 1 p.m. for the lunch hour).

Friday, August 29, 2008

SMETHPORT — Robert E. VanKirk, 85, of Smethport, formerly of Salisbury, Md., died Friday (Aug. 29, 2008) in the Lakeview Senior Care & Living Center. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes Inc.

Overgrown grass, shoddy roads, irresponsible grave openings, damaged grave stones and ruined flower vases are just a few of the complaints a group of concerned families have voiced to the operators of McKean Memorial Park Cemetery.

The cemetery, along Route 59 in Lafayette Township, has amassed much criticism over the past few years, but the contention has increased over the past months as additional families begin to express their disappointment with the cemetery’s condition.

Conrad Dehn, of Coudersport, is one such person, who is upset with the maintenance of McKean Memorial Cemetery.

“My mother and father are up there, and it upsets me terribly to see the condition the cemetery is in,” he said. “I thought when we first bought the lots that there would be money for perpetual care.” More.....

Irresponsible grave openings means what? No response to that from the owner. Families being welcomed to maintain plots but prison workers not. The same liability applies if a family or prison employee is injured while maintaining a grave plot on her property. All I see here is double talk, and an uninvolved owner. You cannot hide behind the endowment care fund not making money. If you are going to own a cemetery, it is your responsibility to maintain it. State law requires it, and Pennsylvania is not terribly forgiving of not honoring your commitment. I own CemOps, listed at: http://www.cemops.comIn my 54 years of life, and lifetime in this profession, it never ceases to amaze me how accountability is still an issue.Perception is powerful. This lady doesn't even bother to check out the validity of a complaint. "Hasn't been out there." This perception is of one that couldn't care less.

I have to agree with you and all other complaints. This cemetery makes me sick. As of Sept. 2nd Mrs. Chase will be informed that my family will be taken care of by myself. They have to many rules of what you can and cannot do. Like putting flowers on graves, that do not have the special vases they require you to have. You go back and if by chance they have mowed that section everything has been thrown away. Sorry but my deceased family and living family had to pay for those plots. It is time for the people to speak up and not let them get away with what is happening. Before all our loved ones stones are disappearing under the earth. When a plot is purchased you receive a deed. Which means you own that peice of property. Since they are so incompetent, we who have had to deal with the lost of a loved one, now needs to stand and take care of there resting place. I feel we all need to take a stand and if these conditions continue, Mrs. Chase just might have to pay for moving our loved ones to a cemetery that has compassion for the families and makes sure what you have purchased is taken care of. I am sure none of her families stones are being buried underground.

Just a note, please all you fans, use the trash cans for your garbage. I'm not trying to be harsh or anything, but on Saturday, when we arrived for the Soccer game, we had to carry out 3 bags of garbage from the stands. It didn't look good when Northern Potter fans showed up and our stands were trashed.Thank you

"Consumers caring for a newborn or infant child should carefully check whether their family's bassinet is among those covered by the CPSC safety alert. Anyone discovering a Simplicity 3-in-1 or Simplicity 4-in-1 sleeper should immediately stop using it", Corbett said. "I also urge consumers to regularly check whether other items they use in and around their homes have been the subject of a recall, and to shop carefully when buying new products for their families."

The bassinets covered by the safety alert include the Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible "Close-Sleeper" Models, also known as "bedside sleepers". According to the CPSC, these items contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under the federal crib safety standard. This spacing can allow an infant to slip through the bassinet's opening and become trapped in between the metal bars, leading to suffocation. Two infants have already died in these bassinets according to the CPSC. As many as one million of these products were sold to consumers in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. More......

WFRM NEWSA Mill Run, PA driver is being charged with speeding following a one-vehicle crash Thursday morning on Route 155 a half mile south of Route 607 in Keating Township.

Troopers said 32 year old Daniel Burnsworth was headed south when his Ford F-250 slid sideways across the rain-slicked road, struck an embankment and spun around 180 degrees before rolling over onto its roof.

WFRM NEWSState police are charging 22 year old Jed Travis of Pavilion, NY with various traffic violations after his truck overturned Thursday afternoon on the Kinney Road a half mile west of the Genesee Township line in Oswayo Township.

Authorities said West lost control of his Dodge Ram 2500 when he tried to answer his cell phone.

The truck went off the road, struck a tree, and overturned, spilling about 75 gallons of diesel fuel in the process.

He is Richard F. Toner, who is leaving his position as superintendent in the Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District in Somerset County to accept the Coudersport appointment.

Toner's hiring was approved by the Coudersport Area Board of Education this week. No terms were disclosed.

He succeeds George A. Nuffer III, who is retiring after five-plus years as superintendent. Toner will begin his service on Sept. 22.

He earned a bachelor's degree from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre and earned his masters degree from the State University of New York at Cortland.

He and his wife Donna will be relocating to the Coudersport area soon.

At Turkeyfoot, the third smallest school district in Pennsylvania -- Austin is the smallest -- Toner adopted a motto of, “Excellent and Proud of It.”

"It is my belief that education changes lives," he said. "Each student is very important, and it is up to the teachers, parents, administrators, staff, and the community to do all they can to create a safe, nurturing, intellectually stimulating environment."

The new superintendent prides himself on an open-door policy for students, parents, teachers and the community.

Anonymous said...

There is still a lot more that needs to be done with the school district before we can start rebounding and improving the kid's education. Step 1 of about 4 is done now.

I agree, ALOT more needs to be done! First, the entire community needs to stop glorifying sports and start pushing academics! All the community cares about is our sports teams...especially football. The only kids that seem to matter in our high school are the athletes, especially ones "with a name". What about the fact that we are BELOW state average in school ratings? I know a family whose daughter was a straight A student, they just moved to Atlanta, and she has to go to summer school because Coudersport is so far behind academically. I really hope our new superintendant changes the tide in Coudersport. We desparately need it!

Glorifying Sports? Especially ones with a name?? Please.....!!! That statement sounds a bit more like sour grapes than anything else. I know nothing of the "ratings system" you mention and dont much care. Students ARE in school to learn, but the mentatllity that we are a "sports crazed" community is a bit far fetched. CHS along with the other local schools still continues to graduate at a high level and still sends the majority of their graduates off to a secondary education at places which range from State Universities to Ivy League institutuions. Bash all you want, but our kids are lucky to be as well rounded as they are and sports programs along with band and other extra curricular activities are options that not every student across the state or country is afforded the option to participate in. Go Falcons and all the other local sports programs in the Northern Tier! If you're a hater, simply stay home!

Let me guess....you have a child/children who play sports, and probably are good at it. What about all of the kids who sit the bench the entire season, because "we must win"?? And no, I do not have any kids in sports. As for other extracurricular activities....several of our kids have quit band because they have to be at sports practice. I'm not a hater, but YES, this is a sports-crazed community.

First off, I am a graduate of Coudersport and have when on to finish my secondary education at Mansfield University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Sports Crazed Community: Well if you call hometown pride and getting excited about a friday night football game then guess what. I am a sports crazed fan.

I had the luxury of recieving my education from Coudersport and also enjoyed being involved with our wonderful extra curricular activities (Football, Track, Pennsylvania Peer Helpers, FFA, Drama Club and carried at 96% average throughout high school). So I understand a little about this subject.

If it were not for these extra curricular activites, my education would have been worthless. It is up to each individual student to make the best of thier education. It is my prayer that we can get more people in our school that aspire students to reach their greatest potential, such as our recently retired teachers (Mr. Brown and Mr. Simcoe).

All the best to you--hope it all works out well and you find what you are looking for in a superintendant. Just be advised people are not always what they seem and what may start out too good to be true usually is.

Officials from PennDot, Coudersport Borough, and A.L. Blades & Sonlook on as Hilda Franklin, grandmother of SPC Mike Franklin, officiallyopens the new Mike Franklin Bridge over the Allegheny River inCoudersport on Friday, August 29, 2008.

Bridge replacement started in March of 2008, with a detour set upthrough residential streets in Coudersport. The $1.5 million dollarproject on East Second Street (Route 6) was finished on scheduleby workers from A.L. Blades & Son of Belmont, NY.

Workers spent the day taking down the many signs on thedetour and on the bridge location. Next to go will be the many temporary traffic lights set up to detour traffic.Traffic patterns on the detour returned to the way it was beforethe bridge project started, much to the enjoyment of the peoplewho live on the streets used for the temporary detour.

Anonymous said...

Hello and Great Job to all involved with new bridge!! Hello and Congratulations to the Franklin family!! Wish "Bud" was here to see it!! God Bless Mike Franklin!Our Local American Hero!! Brad Jones-W. Palm Beach,FL.

Graduates from Bradford Regional Medical Center’s School of Radiography are (front row, from left) Kayla Copello of Benezette, Randi Dillen of Emporium, Carolyn Forlani of Port Allegany and Tiffani Becker of Roulette; and (back row, from left) Jason DeForno and Brett Morrison, both of Bradford, Raymond Fellows of Warren, Melissa Smith of St. Marys and Beth Stratton of Smethport.

Graduation ceremonies were held Thursday, Aug. 28, in the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Commons Building. The students received diplomas for successfully completing the 24-month course which prepares graduates to serve as radiologic technologists in various types of medical imaging facilities.(Photo Courtesy of BRMC)

BREAKING NEWS-11AM-8-29-08Coudersport officials have just notified Solomon's words that the new Mike Franklin Bridge that carries Route 6 traffic across the Allegheny River at Coudersport is now open to traffic at 11:00 AM.

The bridge has been closed since this Spring and was replaced thru the summer. A temporary detour through Coudersport side streets was in place. Traffic patterns through those side streets will return to the previous status.

Ex-teacher gets 10-20 years for sex with 14-year-old

A former special-education teacher at South Philadelphia High School - who admitted launching a weeklong sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl on the Internet's MySpace social networking site - was sentenced yesterday to 10 to 20 years in prison.

Joshua Uhrich, 30, apologized to the girl and her family, telling Common Pleas Court Judge Leon W. Tucker, "I have accepted, recognized and acknowledged that my bad choices have caused a lot of grief and inconvenience to individuals and institutions."

Under the sentence negotiated with the plea deal between the prosecutor and defense attorney, Uhrich must serve Pennsylvania's mandatory minimum 10-year prison term before he may apply for parole.

Though it was Uhrich's first offense of any kind, he fell under a law enacted two years ago that increased the mandatory minimum sentence from five to 10 years for an adult who sexually assaults or is involved with someone age 16 or under.

The law increased the mandatory minimum for a second offense to 25 years and to life for the third offense. More....

Fog causes crash in Burnside Township

A Bradford man was injured in a one-vehicle crash at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday on state Route 144 in Burnside Township that happened when he became disoriented in the fog, state police said.

Darin M. Gonzalez, 25, was not searing a seat belt at the time of the crash, state police at Rockview reported. He was transported by ambulance to Bucktail Medical Center in Renovo. No further information on the extent and nature of his injuries was available.

Police said the crash occurred as he was driving south and negotiating a right curve in a 2000 Ford F-250. He became disoriented on the foggy road lost control and the vehicle began to slide. Gonzalez tried to regain control, and was unable to do so as the Ford spun counterclockwise, struck a tree and came to a stop.

State police said Gonzalez will be issued citations for driving at unsafe speed and not wearing a seat belt.

He was born in Wellsboro on January 29, 1949, the son of Wesley H. and Kathryn I. Emmick Starkweather.

Clifford was a mechanic. He was a Vietnam Era U.S. Air Force veteran. He was a member of Raymond Richar Post 6611 VFW in Galeton, PA.

Surviving are a daughter Sonya D. Frome of Montoursville, two grandchildren Elijah D. Rook and Nicholas M. Kohler, his father Wesley H. Starkweather of Wellsboro, brother and sisters William D. Starkweather of Antrim, PA, Kathy L. McMullen of Wellsboro and Janette L. Frome of Trout Run. He was preceded in death by his mother Kathryn I. Starkweather.

KANE — Pennsylvania Superior Judge John M. Cleland, who was sworn into office on July 3, has opened a temporary office in Kane, his hometown.

Soon, he and his staff of law clerks, all experienced attorneys, three full-time and one part-time, and two administrators, will move to a permanent location in the professional offices at the Kane Community Hospital. More.....

ALBANY -- In response to public concerns about a potential gas rush in the Southern Tier and Catskill regions, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has launched a Web site with information about the Marcellus Shale. More

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by 2 sisters, and 2 nieces

Visitation will be held on Friday August 29, 2008 from 2 - 4 and 6-8 PM at Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc, 105 N Main St, Port Allegany, PA. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday August 30, 2008 at 10am in St Gabriel's Church with the Rev. John J. Murphy, pastor as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Gabriel’s Cemetery, Port Allegany. A Christian Wake service will be held at 3:30 pm, Friday in the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Roulette Ambulance Association, American Diabetes, or Meals on Wheels.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc, Port Allegany.

James Jones said...

Pat was one of the nicest people I have ever known. God will give her a special place in Heaven.

Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:53:00 PM EDT

nittanygurl_87 said...

Yes she indeed was!!! Her smiling face when you walked into North Penn to pay your gas bill took some of the sting out of it!!!Perhaps God needed a new receptionist? If so.. he got a peach in Pat!!!

Renovations continue at the Coudersport Area Recreation Park football stadium in preparation for Friday night's varsity opener, as the Falcons host Elk County Catholic.

School officials say the game is on, with opening kickoff at 7, despite some unfinished business with the facility.

New bleachers, locker rooms, rest rooms, lights, press box and drainage are among the improvements, part of the school district's $9 million in renovations to CARP, the elementary school and the high school.

Lugene Heimel Photo

It's being financed by a bond issue, as only the elementary school work qualifies for state funding.

Anonymous said...

The Falcon's Varsity Soccer Team will also be hosting Northern Potter on Saturday morning at 10am at the newly renovated field.

YES!! LET'S NOT FORGET THE COUDERSPORT VARSITY SOCCER TEAM!!! THESE KIDS PUT IN A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND DESERVE SOME RECONITION. I LOVE FOOTBALL AS WE ALL DO, BUT THIS SEASON IS MORE THAN FOOTBALL, IT'S SOCCER TOO. THESE KIDS NEED OUR SUPPORT!!

I do pay taxes in Coudersport borough, and I was one of the people who protested all of this renovation. Now we have 8 new classrooms at our elementary school, with a large decrease in enrollment. Yet the board at the time passed all of this. Our outgoing superintendent, George Nuffer, swears this will not come out of our pockets. We shall see. Then again, he is retiring from his SECOND job in a school district, collecting his SECOND pension, so why should he care?? People will complain, but when it comes time to show up at the schoolboard meetings, and demand that the board take actions appropriately, guess what? Nobody shows up! We need ALOT more participation at our board meetings, people. Lastly, you are right...it is NOT all about football!

WFRM NEWS Troopers are also probing several recent criminal mischiefs.

Vandals punctured three tires on a vehicle owned by John Heller of Coudersport Tuesday between 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. while it was parked on Drabert Lane in Roulette Township.

Vandals spun an ATV around the parking lot of the Oswayo Valley Rod and Gun Club on Canada Hollor Road in Sharon Township Sunday night or Monday morning, causing some flying stones to break windows and a door and damage the siding on the building.

Culprits also broke out a window at a camp on Gross Hollow Road in Sweden Township owned by Charles Graver during an unknown period of time.

Anonymous said...

Probably the same ones that were going full speed up and down Clara Rd. late Sunday afternoon! Very lucky one or more were not seriously hurt or killed.

WFRM NEWSThe state game commission reports that Wildlife Management Unite 3A which includes the area north of Route 6 in Potter, McKean, Tioga and Bradford Counties has exhausted it’s doe license allocations.

Two emails to Howard Nelson, CEO of the Pennsylvania SPCA, requesting information on Helen F. Miller, who died and left 2.1 million dollars to the Pennsylvania SPCA to establish a shelter in Potter County, have gone unanswered.

After reading articles about the bequest in both the city papers and local papers, I have continually wondered who this woman was that amassed this large amount of money to benefit animals.

None of the articles I have read had any background on Ms. Miller, and searches on the internet have turned up nothing.

You can bet your butt that if I or my organization were the beneficiary of a bequest of this size, that I would publicize the story of this woman's life, how she amassed this money, and why she felt so strongly as to donate it to an organization. I certainly would not ignore requests for information about her.

If any of my readers knows about this wonderful woman, maybe you could fill us in with some information about her.

Anonymous said...

Not sure who Ms. Miller was, but have heard some interesting information about this so called spca. Is it true that this facility will be used as a dog prison ? As in bringing animals to the area from Pittsburg and Philadelphia that involved in court litigation i.e. dog fighting. These animals could be here for a long time due to the court process. Do we want this area to be a dumping ground for the big city animal control problems ?

You People are amazing... Once again there might be something comming to the area that would no dout bring jobs and money to this DIEING County... and all you are going to do is complain... I would rather see alot of little compainies come to the area and bring 10-15 jobs each then that 1 BIG saving grace that everyone seems to hope for... Did anyone learn a thing with the last BIG ONE... My mommy always told me not to put all of my eggs in one basket...

YEA.. THE LAST 'BIG' COMPANY TO COME TO TOWN REALLY HAS A LOT TO OFFER.. THEY PLANNED ON HAVING HUNDREDS OF JOBS AND ARE LUCKY IF THEY CAN KEEP 100. I BET THAT BUILDING WOULD HAVE MADE A BEAUTIFUL S.P.C.A. HECK, THEY ALREADY TREAT THE AGENTS LIKE ANIMALS !!

“Our humane officers are in the process of being sworn in and registered in an additional 33 counties. By the end of the year, we will have at least one agent sworn in and registered in all of the state’s 67 counties,” said PSPCA CEO Howard R. Nelson.

The PSPCA is the primary agency responsible for enforcing Pennsylvania’s animal cruelty laws in 27 of the state’s counties and is the secondary contact for the remainder of the counties. The PSPCA works with local police departments and humane agencies in its secondary regions to report and investigate cruelty complaints.

“Our future plans include receiving approval for a PSPCA expanded Humane Society Police Officer Training, which will allow potential officers who are not part of the PSPCA to also take part in the training that all of our officers will receive,” said Nelson.

“The rise in animal cruelty reports across Pennsylvania in the past year prove that we need to continue the expansion of our law enforcement unit,” said Nelson. “We have hired four agent trainees in Philadelphia whom we expect to graduate from training and be sworn officers by the end of the year. We are also currently requesting applications and interviewing candidates for humane officer positions in Northwest, Central and Northeast Pennsylvania. ”

The PSPCA agent trainees will complete training provided especially by the PSPCA, as well as the required Humane Agent Trainee two-week course required by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for all Pennsylvania humane gents. Although this training has always been held only once a year in April, PSPCA Chief Program Officer Elaine Skypala has received approval from the Department of Agriculture to add an additional training session. She is working with Penn State University to offer the course in November or December. “It is essential that qualified individuals with proper training are able to become humane officers in a timely manner,” said Skypala. “Offering the course more than once a year will become the norm and not the exception.”

The need for the presence of PSPCA humane officers in every county is a direct result of the organization’s toll-free cruelty hotline, 1-866-601-SPCA, which was launched January 30, 2008. ““When we started the hotline, we estimated 200 calls per month, which would have been 1,200 calls after six months,” said Nelson. “We are averaging almost 30 calls a day, putting us at just over 4,700 calls after six months.”

The PSPCA’s hotline is answered by live operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Agents are dispatched to cases immediately, if the severity warrants. “The job of a PSPCA humane officer has evolved in the past year,” said Nelson. “This is not a 9-5 office job. We need people who are willing to be available 24/7. The officers we have now and the candidates we are considering are willing to make this commitment to Pennsylvania’s animals in distress. I am confident that we will have the state’s best possible humane law enforcement unit”

PSPCA Statement on Law Enforcement Operations

Philadelphia, August 26, 2008—“The PSPCA is disappointed that the Pocono Record would use the misinformation of disgruntled former employees as the basis of the article, ‘Humane Officers Routinely Sent to Work in Counties Where They are Not Sworn In,’ which appeared in the paper’s August 26 edition,” said PSPCA CEO Howard Nelson. “The claims made throughout the article by two former PSPCA humane officers are desperate attempts to undermine the integrity of our humane agents and our organization and is a mockery of the valuable, life saving rescue work our agents perform every day.”

The PSPCA never asks its humane agents or staff to participate in illegal activities. “We never ask our officers to act as officers in counties where they are not sworn and registered,” said Nelson. “In those counties, they are answering calls as rescue agents—which is legal.”

James and Janeen Duff are animal hoarders. Animal hoarding is a sign of mental illness—in the Pocono Record article, Robert Martin, the Duff’s attorney, acknowledges that the Duffs “have emotional problems.”

“The Duffs could not care for their animals. They realized this and willfully surrendered them to the PSPCA,” said Nelson. “Unfortunately, two of the cats were in such poor health when surrendered to the PSPCA that they died within hours.”

“The article, as written in the Pocono Record, presents just one side of the story—unfounded claims presented by two former employees whose employment records show that they were not able to fulfill the job requirements of a humane officer,” said Nelson.

“The PSPCA’s law enforcement unit has a great reputation across the state and has received more than 8,000 calls regarding animals in need this year,” said Nelson. “It is unfortunate, but no surprise that two agents who were not meeting their assigned, legal job duties are trying to tarnish the impeccable record of the PSPCA law enforcement team by commenting on this one case. It is unfortunate that the Pocono Record has played into this attack on our organization from disgruntled and biased former employees.”

Former PSPCA Humane Agent Reba McDonald’s work quality was questionable. “She did not report to court when subpoenaed and she continually did not record her case records in our computer system,” said PSPCA Chief Programs Officer Elaine Skypala. “We have given her ample opportunity to present us instances where she felt she was treated wrongly or asked to conduct herself in an unethical manner. These requests have gone unanswered because Reba McDonald’s claims are unfounded.” Former PSPCA Humane Officer Chris Martin refused to participate in a legal undercover investigation, for which he was going to be compensated by the PSPCA for gas for using his own unmarked car. “The PSPCA’s director of law enforcement, as well as an outside attorney and assistant district attorney all confirmed that this investigation was legal,” said Skypala. “Despite knowing this was a legal operation, Chris Martin refused to do his job.”

The email from Nelson reported in the article at “damage control” was taken completely out of context, as were the call logs of a current PSPCA agent.

“That email was written before the motion was filed in the Duff case,” said Nelson. “It was sent to clarify policies—which is one of my duties as CEO. It was in no way sent to ‘cover up’ any actions, as the article implies. Furthermore, regarding the case assignment of an agent not sworn in Monroe County, this is perfectly legal. He has the authority to act as animal rescue.”

Added Nelson, “The PSPCA has thousands of supporters across the state that recognize the difficult job we fulfill to save animals in need and to find loving adoptive homes for these animals. Many of these supporters are from Monroe County, as witnessed in recent blog postings on the Pocono Record website regarding another article:

The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals is accused of overstepping its authority.

Humane officers have allegedly confiscated animals and conducted cruelty investigations in counties where they have no official jurisdiction to operate, including Monroe County.

"It's break the law or get fired," one investigator said.

Animal cruelty investigators must take classes to be certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, then be sworn in to work in individual counties. Humane officers are not allowed to work where they are not sworn in by each county's Court of Common Pleas. More....

Read Comments: Howard Nelson hires agents, sends his agents to do their job without the needed tools. More.....

Rebecca, Rachel, and Sara Warnshuis attend school just like every other child their age, but instead of jumping on the school bus each morning they walk downstairs to their own classroom filled with desks. More....

I have seen and been in contact with home schooled children and believe in this day and age if I had children this is the route I would go. My grandson is being home schooled and is doing great, even participating in sports outside of his school.

To each their own and while a virtual or home school environment may be right for some, I also see value in children attending school for the social aspects and interactions as well. Personally, I dont see how you learn the life lessons you need relating to decision making, conflict resolution, or the overall development of "people skills" when your classroom is limited to only siblings and/or virtual classmates and instructors. Not saying it can't be done, just more difficult it would seem.

The lack of social peer group is a common misconception amoung non- home schoolers. There are many groups, activities, outings and situations where they gain these skills with other home schoolers. Personally, most home schooled & virtual schooled children I have met are much more mature and ready to enter adulthood than public schooled children..

I would much rather have my kids learn "life lessons, decision making, conflict resolution, etc..." from me or other adults who share my beliefs than other kids & teachers who don't. I have also found that most home-schooled kids are much more mature and advanced in their education than their public school peers.

To the person who sees value in children attending public school for the social aspects.....did you ever have a child in public school who was an outcast? Who didn't fit in, was picked on and ignored by their peers? I do have one. The suffering is horrible. If you don't play sports, wear the right clothes, have a name, etc....then you're nothing. And that's exactly how you are treated. So going to school every day is a huge mental effort, and the damage and effects are far-reaching. Then there's the fact that the "popular" kids are the ones doing all the drinking & drugs, but it gets overlooked by the community. I can see why many parents choose to cyber-school. I'm strongly considering it.

I don't believe that a cyber school environment should be used to shelter children from the harsh realities of life that they are going to encounter at some point or another. Let’s face it, they need to learn to deal with the good and the bad. It can help them become better people.

I think that social interaction is necessary because children need to learn how to meet new people, share, bond, experience conflict, etc.

I attended college online so I could stay working full time and must say that I found it to be more difficult than a "brick and mortar" style campus. You can't show up to class hung over and sit there in order to get credit for participation. You have to actually do your homework and contribute to the class or you fail.

If school were that way for me as a child, perhaps I would have worked harder than I did. I see nothing wrong with this type of learning as long as kids get to participate in other activities and are able to interact with other children regularly.

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